87th Anniversary Of Women's Suffrage

On Sunday afternoon, more than 50 re-enactors mulled around the city square playing political leaders of the early 20th century.

They were celebrating Women's suffrage, the right to vote which was granted 87 years ago today.

Organizers say East Tennessee played a major role in the women's suffrage movement.

"Not only did Tennessee become the perfect 36th that made it law, but East Tennessee can hold a special claim to fame because it was our legislator that broke the tie," said Wanda Sobieski, one of the events Coordinators. "That changed his mind at the last moment and Harry Bird voted for suffrage, giving us all that right."

Women fought for more than seven decades to get the right to vote.

It was finally granted in 1920 with the passing of the 19th amendment.

Eight years earlier, Knoxvillian Lizzie Crozier French became the first woman to address the Tennessee Bar Association.

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